gringa musings from a rooftop terrace in Oaxaca

One life, two countries

In the last five years one million Mexicans residing in the US have returned to Mexico, including children and youth who were born or raised in the US. Una Vida, Dos Países presents the stories of these transborder youth, highlighting their experiences living between two countries, cultures, languages and education systems, and exploring their parents’ decisions to return to their home country after living undocumented in the US.

Thirty seconds into the new documentary,Una Vida, Dos Países by Tatyana Kleyn, tears began welling up. Set in Ciénaga de Zimatlán and Tlacolula de Matamoros, both in the central valley of Oaxaca, the places and faces were so very familiar and it hurt to hear the anguish in their voices and see the sadness in their eyes.

I love Oaxaca and, at this stage of my life, have chosen to immerse myself in a foreign culture. However, these kids didn’t have a choice. One day, they are normal “American” kids — going to school, playing with friends, speaking English in bustling towns and cities in the USA. And the next day, they are uprooted from all that is familiar to find themselves “transfronterizos,” living in small rural pueblos bound by a millennia of tradition, surrounded by strangers who are speaking languages, Spanish and/or Zapoteco, they are either not fluent in or don’t know at all. In addition, they are forced to navigate a school system that has little or no understanding of the culture shock they are experiencing.

Early in the film, Melchor’s father says, “This is my family, this is my house, not a beautiful house, but when you want to come here, the door is open for you, for everybody.” Oh, that governments would exhibit that same generous hospitality.